Butyl xanthate flotation



Patented Dec. 22, 1931' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE L'UDWIG a. canismann, or JERSEY CITY,

WAN Am comm, or n'Ew YORK, N.

JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN Y, A CORPORATION OF Ho Drawing.

This invention relates to the flotation of ores, more'particularly to'the use in the froth,

reagents was potassium ethyl xanthate. This reagent has been in extensive use and has been considered highly effective in the flotation of ores, and has been a standard of comparison for reagents. I

I have discovered that greater efiiciency in flotation may be obtained by the use of other xanthates, specificiallysecondary butyl xanthates in place of the old reagents. This new reagent has been extensively tested both in laboratory operations and in large scale mill production with uniformly superior results over those obtained with potassium ethyl xanthate. In all cases the amount of mineral recovered from the pulp has been greater. In some cases the increased recovery has not been over a few tenths of one percent, but in other'cases the increase in recovery has been 1% and even much more. In no case, re-

gardless of the type or character of the ore floated, has the recovery been less than the recoveries obtained by potassium ethyl xanthate. My new reagents may be prepared in any desired manner, as for example, by the process described in the co-pending applicat ion of Christmann and Jayne, Serial No.

40 444,345, filed April 14th, 1930, now Patent 1,810,552 of June 16.1931 entitled Secondary butyl xanthates. However, the present invention is not limited to the method aration of the material.

My reagents, which are water soluble, have Application filed Kay 29,

of prep- 19:10. Serial No. 457,521.

most probably the following structural formula:

where M is an alkali metal, such as sodium or potassium.

In the operation of my invention I have utilized a copper ore of the Anaconda Copper Company which was treated as follows: 1200 grams of ore was ground with 600 cc. of water and 4.5# of lime per ton of ore for ten minutes in a steel rod mill. The resulting grind had an analysis of 47% through a 200 mesh screen. The pH of the flotation pulp was 11.9. Flotations were conducted with potassium ethyl xanthate and with sodium secondary butyl xanthate in identical amounts under the same conditions the pulp being agitated for three minutes before the first or concentrate float and agitated for I:

seven minutes before the second or middling float. The results low.

Assays %.Cu Reagents Sodium Potassium sec. butyl ethyl mthate xmithnt'u copper Lbs. ton Feed Cone. Midd. Tall meow ery The copper recoveryby the use of my new reagent is much more complete than that by obtained are tabulated be 1 pine oil the old reagent. Such an increased recovery when applied. to a-mill treating thousands of tons of ore per day'means an enormous saving in cost of production. 1 v

Another example of an ore treated is that of the United Verde Copper Company, which was treated as follows 1200 grams of ore were ground with v600 cc. of water and of lime per ton of ore for eight minutes in a steel rod mill. The

analysis of the resulting material was 63.5% through a 200 mesh screen. The pH of the pul was 12.0. The floatation operation was con noted for three minutes to obtain a .concentrate and for five minutes to obtain the middling. The results of comparative tests with my reagent and potassium ethyl xanthate are set forth the following table:

Assays Cu Sodium Potasuty e y copper meow xanthate xanthate ery Lbs/ton pine oil Feed Cone. Midd. :Tail

creasing recoveries by both reagents, but in every case 'the superiority of sodium secondary butyl xanthate over potassium ethyl xanthate was apparent,as shown by the following tables V, V

I ANACONDA ORE %oopperreeovared Xanthate 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.04 0.08

x. ethyl f 834 04.8 00.7 01.5

Na-eoc.buty 04.0 00.0 07.0 07.5

V UNITED-VERDE ORE K.othy1z.' 00.8 80.0 00.0 93.6

Na-eoc. butyl 82.5 01.0 05.3 96.8

From the foregoing it is rfectly apparent that my new reagents are ar superior to pctassium ethyl xanthate which has been considered as an extremely valuable reagent. in flotation of various ores. My new reagents are not only more efiicient in recovery, but are cheaper to produce than potassium eth I xant ate. Such low cost production is o tained both becauseof the efliciency of the reaction giving a high yield and the cheapness of the reacting ingredients.

What I claim is:

1. A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises subjecting an ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a salt of secondary butyl xanthate as a promotor.

-2. Amethod of recovering minerals from ores which comprises subjecting an ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of an alkali metal salt of secondary butyl Xanthate as a promotor.

3. A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises subjecting an ore to a froth flotation in the presence of the sodium salt of seconda y butyl xanthate as a promotor. v

4. The method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises subjecting an ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a promotor, having the following structural formula:

where M is an alkali metal.

6. A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises subjecting an ore to a T froth flotation operation in the presence of a promotor having the following structural formula:

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27 day of May, 1930. LUDWIG J. CHRISTMANN. 

